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The following were written by The Daily Times editor, and local historian, Dean Stone

Need for power led ALCOA to Blount

Finding less expensive ways to separate aluminum from the other elements to which it was bonded and the resulting need for large amounts of power to operate aluminum smelters led ALCOA to the watershed of the Little Tennessee River in 1910.

Essentially the same, less expensive process for smelting aluminum from bauxite co-discovered by Charles Martin Hall in 1886 is in use worldwide today.more

Tapoco Lodge is near Cheoah Dam

Tapoco Lodge, just a short walk from Cheoah Dam, is located in a community that reached a peak population in excess of 2,000 during construction of the Cheoah and Santeetlah dams. The Lodge was not built until 1930 and when a road reached the area a year later it was opened to the public. more

In 1910, Alcoa began purchasing land in the Smoky Mountains to start construction of dams that would power its new smelting facility.

The smelter made its first metal on March 6, 1914 (which operated until 2009), followed by Tennessee's first fabricating facility, the West Plant, in 1920 (which operated until 1989) and the North Plant fabricating facility in 1942.

On May 2, 2013, Alcoa Inc. announced a $275 million expansion to expand and convert capacity at its rolling mill in Alcoa to support automotive producers’ plans to use more aluminum sheet to increase fuel efficiency, safety, durability and performance of cars and light trucks. Read more.

Centennial Timeline

Alcoa Inc. Tennessee Operations has released it's centennial anniversary timeline. View photos and explore 100 years of smelting, fabricating and recycling aluminum in East Tennessee. If you have stories, photos or memorabilia to share, please be sure to send us your information.

On August 29, 2013, Alcoa officially broke ground on its $275 million automotive expansion at Tennessee Operations which will add jobs, meet the growing demand for the automotive market and secure Alcoa’s proud history in East Tennessee for the next 100 years.

In October of 1918, the Aluminum Bulletin was issued so “every man, and woman, in the employ of the company can get a copy, enjoy its contents, and then send it on to some friend.” The newsletter highlighted employees serving in World War I and provided detailed information about the development of the operations. The last issue was printed in December, 1920.